Synchronous Metal Rearrangement on Two-Dimensional Equatorial Surfaces of Au–Cu Alloy Nanoclusters

Understanding the growth of nanoclusters and the relationship
between
structure–activity depends on the precise arrangement of metals
on their surface. In this work, we realized the synchronous rearrangement
of metal atoms on the equatorial plane of Au–Cu alloy nanoclusters.
Upon adsorption of the phosphine ligand, the Cu atoms on the equatorial
plane of the Au52Cu72(SPh)55 nanocluster
are irreversibly rearranged. The whole metal rearrangement process
can be understood from a synchronous metal rearrangement mechanism
initiated by the adsorption of the phosphine ligand. Furthermore,
this metal rearrangement can effectively improve the efficiency of
A3 coupling reactions without increasing the amount of
catalyst.